Fountain pen



Oct. 29, 1929. R. A. FRlTscH FOUNTAIN PEN Filed March 14, 1927 da@Romney VPatented Oct. 29, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT ori-ICE ROCKELALEXANDER FRITSCH, OF MAZATLAN, MEXICO, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN LAWRIE, OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS FOUNTAIN PEN Application filed March 14, 1927.

This invention aims to provide a self-filling fountain pen so organizedand constructed as to be readily filled in a simple, positive manner byone hand and characterized by large ink capacity in comparison with itsbulk. Other objectsand advantages reside in certain novel features ofthe construction, ar-

rangement and rcombination of parts which will be hereinafter more fullydescribed, in connection with the accompanyingV drawings forming a partof this specification, wherein like reference numerals refer to thesaine parts throughout and wherein,

Fig. l is a longitudinal central section illustrating a preferredembodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of the lower end of the Constructionshown by Fig. l with the piston pushed back as in the filling operationFigs. 3 and t illustrate modified lower end constructions, correspondingto Fig. 2; and

F ig. 5 is a detail of a modified butt end construction.

It will be understood in the following description and claims that theterms upper, lower and the like are used with reference to the normalposition of the pen when writing, the lower end, also referred to as thewriting end, being that which carries the pen point.

The term solidly close as used in this specification means permanentlyink-tight with no openings or packed piston orifices through which inkleaks might develop, and while solidly closed barrels have been usedheretofore in fountain pens, such as the droppcr filled pens, I believethis to be the first multi-stroke self-filling fountain pen toincorporate such a permanently ink-tight barrel.

The form of my pen shown by Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a barrel l whoseonly opening is at the lower end, said barrel being i tted with aninterior axial tube 2 of relatively small diameter, open only at the topand bottom, extending substantially its entire length, which tube issecured to the center of the upper end of said barrel. The lower end ofthe barrel is closed, forming an ink reservoir,

aan tl Serial No. 175,328.

by a reciprocable tubular piston 3, the travel of which is guided andoutwardly limited by a bushing 4 which also serves as a finishing tipfor the lower end of the barrel.

EXt-ernally the piston 3 consists of three mutually rigid cylindricalportions of successively diminishing diameter, having a common axis. Thetop section 5, having the greatest diameter, makes a sliding liquidtightfit with the interior of the lower end of the barrel, and terminatesforwardly in a shoulder 6. The middle section terminates in a shoulder7, which, when the piston is eX- tended to the normal writing positionof Fig. 1, abuts against an inner shoulder of the bushing 4. The upperand middle sections, which are of approximately equal length, remain atall times within the barrel, while the lowest section, which makes aneasy sliding iit within the bushing t, is about as long as the other twocombined, and protrudes, when extended, beyond the bushing a distancesubstantially equal to the reciprocation of the piston.

The interior of the tubular piston 3 is of large diameter within theenlarged portion 5, thus only slightly diminishing the capacity of theink reservoir, and is reduced by a tapering shoulder 8 to a passage 9 ofsmaller uniform diameter through the two lower portions. A plug 10permanently closes the lower end of the piston 3. This plug is suitablyshaped, as at 11, to support a pen point 12, held in position in theusual manner. A central passage 13, hole l5 and ducts 16 provide an inkchannel for feeding and for filling. This passage 13 is of properdiameter and shape to permit the tube 2 to slide freely therein with asubstantially inkand air-tight lit, and is tapered at its upper end tofacilitate the entrance of the lower end 17, also tapered, of said tube.Vhen the piston 3 is in extended position a narrow space 18, justsufficient for the feed of ink from the lower end of the reservoir tothe pen point, is left between the end 17 and the entrance to thepassage 13.

rlhe middle portion of the piston, the periphery of which, by reason ofits reduced diameter, is spaced from the inside of the barrel, issurrounded by a coiled tension spring 21, the ends 22 and 23 of whichare respectively inwardly and outwardly turned into suitable notches inthe piston and in the barrel. To equalize air pressure in the springspace when the piston is reciprocated the fit between the piston and thebushing l may be a little loose, or this result may be accomplished by alongitudinal groove on either the inner surface of the bushing or theouter surface of the piston.

The upper end of the tube 2, which is se cured in the upper end of thebarrel, may communicate with the ink reservoir by small holes 28, Fig.l, or by channels 29 within the head of the barrel, Fig. 5.

Figs. 3 and 4 show the use of a compression spring instead of a tensionspring. y

Besides permitting a shorter assembly, the use of a compression insteadof a tension spring gives a smoother piston action because such a springreacts against the entire circumference of the shoulder 3l and flange32.

Fig. 3 illustrates a modification of the con-y struction of Fig. 2,wherein the barrel bushing 40 is cylindrical and of the same externaldiameter as the barrel, and the passage through the piston is enlarged,forming an additional ink chamber 4l, having a collar 42 at the topwithin which the lower end of the tube 2 slides, and closed at thebottom by a pen-holder block 43. rllhe collar tapers upwardly andoutwardly to meet the enlarged upper sleeve of the piston, the innertaper being steepened as shown at A to guide the lower end 17 of thetube 2 into said opening. In this modification the upper end of thepen-holding block 43, in combination with the pen point, forms thebottom of the chamber Lll, while the lower end constitutes the usualpen-supporting tongue. Ink channels 45 in one side of the block leadfrom the central passage to the pen. The head 46 of the block isinclined toward the channel side to carry the last drop of ink to thepen point.

Fig. 4 illustrates a simplified piston construction comprising anintegral flanged lower portion 51 internally threaded at its upper endand an upper enlarged portion 52 connected therewith by an externallythreaded nipple 50.

It is to be understood that such features as are not specificallydescribed in connection with each of my various modifications aresimilar in construction to the corresponding elements in figures whichare completely described and that the characteristic features of theseveral embodiments, where not inconsistent, may be used together invarious combinations other than those herein shown and described.

The various component elements of the barrel and of the piston may beassembled in any suitable manner, for instance, by screw threads orforce fits.

To lill my improved pen the point is submerged in ink against anunyielding surface, and the barrel alternately pushed down by hand andallowed to rise by the action of the spring. The down stroke reduces thesize of the ink chamber, forcing air out through the holes 28,v orpassages 29, the tube 2 and the piston passages. The up stroke sucks inkup through the same course. This ink falls into the bottom of thereservoir, whence it cannot escape, except in minute quantities at thebeginning of the succeeding down stroke, for the reason that the bottomflow opening, is narrowly restricted, and moreover this Vopening isclosed by the beginning of the down stroke. Completion of filling willbe indicated by cessation of bubbles from the point, and by increasingresistance to the down stroke caused by expulsion of ink instead of air.It will be seen, however', that no injury to the open pen can resultfrom unnecessary continuation of the pumping process, since thiswillonly cause a continued circulation of ink.

l/Vhen due to dryness at the pen point or other causes, the flow of inkdoes not readily begin, it may be started by pushing the barrel slightlydownward on the piston.

It will be seen from the foregoing that I have invented a pen of simpleand durable construction, reliable and efficient in operation, easilyand cheaply. manufactured, and leak proof by reason of having noopenings in the top or sides of the barrel. Maximum ink capacity inrelation to the size of the pen is secured by the absence of waste spacein the ink chambensince there is no sack, since the tube 2 is filledwhen the chamber is full, and since the piston is hollow.

Having described certain preferred embodiments of my invention withoutrestricting myself thereto, what I claim is:

l. In a fountain pen, in combination, a rigid reservoir, a piston in thewriting end of said reservoir, said piston being adapted to bereciprocated therein by alternate manual and spring action applied atsaid writing end for filling said pen.

2. In a selfdilling fountain pen of the piston type, a barrel solidlyclosed at one end, said barrel having a relatively small axial tubecentrally secured to saidclosed end,

said tube provided with orifices at each end only, said tube beingadapted to carry alter,- nate outflow and inflow of the contents of saidbarrel.

3. In a fountain pen, in combination, a barrel, a permanent closure atthe upper end of said barrel, a restrictedly reciprocable closing memberat the lower end of said barrel, a relatively small interior tubeextending substantially from end to end of said barrel, saidreciprocable closing member havingva passage therein, a. restrictedopeningy passage being adapted to register with and slidingly fit thelower end of said interior tube.

4. In a fountain pen, in combination, a barrel open only at the writingend, a piston in said writing end and adapted to be actuated from saidwriting end, said piston being adapted for reciprocation therein forfilling said pen.v

5. In a self-filling fountain pen having a piston, a barrel solidlyclosed at one end, said barrel having a relatively small longitudinaltube coacting with said piston secured to said closed end, said tubeprovided with orifices in upper and lower parts, said tube being adaptedto carry alternate out-A fiow and inflow of the contents of said barrel.

6. A fountain pen including, in combination, an ink reservoir composedof a barrel and a combined piston and feed assembly in the writing endof said barrel, a tube within said reservoir, said tube providing an inkand Vair passage between the upper end of said reservoir and saidcombined piston and feed assembly.

7. In combination, in a self-filling fountain pen, a cylindrical casing,a point-carrying feed assembly constituting a piston closing one end ofsaid casing and reciprocable therein, said casing end said pistoncomposing an ink reservoir, a channel between the ends of saidreservoir, said channel permanently opened in its upper and lower parts,said channel being adapted for egress of air and/or ink from and ingressof ink to said reservoir.

8. In a fountain pen, in combination, a tubular ink reservoir, apermanent closure at the upper end of said reservoir, a restrictedlyreciprocable filling and feed member at the lower end of said reservoir,a relatively small interior tube extending substantially the length ofsaid reservoir, said reciprocable filling and feed member having apassage therein, a restricted feed space between the interior of saidreservoir and said passage when said reciproca-ble filling and feedinember is in extended position, said feed space being so arranged as tobe closed by the first portion of the inward movement of saidreciprocable filling and feed member, the inner end of said passagebeing adapted to envelope and slidingly fit the lower end of saidinterior tube.

9. In a fountain pen, in combination, a tubular reservoir closed at itsuper end, a tubular feeding and filling piston comprising its lower end,an ink distributing pen point support fixed to the lower end of saidpiston, an inner ink and air carrying tube open in its upper and lowerportions, said tube having its upper part fixed to the inner upperportion of said tubular reservoir and its lower portion adapted forinsertion into said tubular piston thereby to trap ink in saidreservoir.

l0. fn a fountain pen of the self-filling style, in combination, awriting member, a reservoir adapted to supply ink thereto, saidreservoir comprising a rigid cylinder closed except at the lower end, amovable piston within said reservoir, said piston adapted to be actuatedfrom said lower end to expel air from and take ink into saidreservoir,and only means of ingress and egress of ink and/or air throughsaid lower end, and an inner tubular passage between the lower and theupper portions of said reservoir.

ll. In a fountain pen with a filling arrangement, a rigid reservoirsolidly closed except at the lower end, an inlt passage member operablethrough said lower end, a piston slidably movable within the lowerportion of said reservoir, said piston being connected to said inkpassage member, and means foil the passage of air through said lowerend.

l2. In a fountain pen with a filling arrangement, in combination, arigid reservoir barrel solidly closed except at the lower end, anorificed piston operable within said reservoir barrel and bounding thelower end of said reservoir, an operating extension to said pistonextending outwardly through the lower end of said reservoir barrel, andmeans for ingress and egress of inl; and/or air through said reservoirbarrel lower end and said piston orifice.

13. In a fountain pen with a filling arrangement, in combination, arigid reservoir barrel solidly closed except at the lower end, and afilling piston in said lower end defining the lower end of the reservoirand having its only operating projection extending downwardly throughthe lower end of said reservoir barrel.

14. A fountain pen comprising, in combination, a substantially rigidcylindrical reservoir solidly closed at the sides and up per end andhaving a single opening at the lower end thereof, a piston-type fillingdevice extending through said opening and into the lower portion of saidreservoir and slidinvly operable through said opening, and apoint-carrier and spring return means for actuating said filling device.

l5. In a fountain pen, in combination, a substantially rigid reservoirsolidly closed except at the writing end, a piston within said reservoirand reciprocably operable through said writing end, said piston having apassage therethrough, and means tending to return said piston to itsnormal outwardly extended position on inward movement ofsaidfpiston-soithat by alternate inwardand automatic outward impulsionair may beV lthrough said-opening, and'a point-'carrier outside :saidreservoir and attached to the outer end of said .illing device.

17. i:En a fself-'lling fountainlpe'n, incombination, f al barrel, la.piston 'fmounted for f reciprocation -in the lower 'end of said barrel,said piston having an ink `fand/or airicarr-ying channel therein, anlink :and/orA 'air carrying tube in said barrel adapted Ato enterlsaidchannel, and an'enlargement-atithe upper end .of saidchannel toliacilitate -entrance v'oi' said tube thereinto.

18. In a self-lillingffountainpen, in combination, a li-igid reservoirsolidly closed eX- cept vat the Writinglendr'and-a @liliing deviceoperable through the 'Writing end of `said reservoir.

19. In-a sel-filling'type of Y1Iountain pen, in combination, a rigid`cylinder Aforming an ink reservoir solidly. closed .except 'atits-lowerend, a Writing element slidably-mount-cd in the lower end ofsaid reser-ifo'ir, fa pieten connectedto said Writing element, saidpiston arranged for upward and downward movement in saidreservoirfforthe expulsion of airy and intake of ink through lsaid .Writing element,said 'Writing `element forming the sole stem for operating `saidypistonein one direction, and means-for 'returning ther-piston in theotherdirection.

20. In a self-filling type of fountain pen, in combination, asubstantially rigid reser- Voir, a lilling device'reciprocableWithiusaid reservoir and operable through the point end thereof forexpulsion of air and intake ofinl through said point end, and means forstoring energy during'reciprocation of said device in one direction,saidreeiprocation being adapted to be accomplished b yalternateapplication of external force and release of energy stored.

21. In a Vself-filling "fountain :pen of the 'piston type; a reservoir,said reservoir being deiined by two telescoping members the outer ofsaid members being solidly closed at its outer 'end and comprising thebuttend lof the pen; a tube carried bysaid closed outer end andextending toward 'the other end of said outer member, said tube being incommunication With the interior of said-outer member adjacent saidclosed `outer end; a lWriting point carriedby the outer end of theinnerrof said telescoping members thel outer end-of the inner of saidtelescoping rmember having a channel therein communicating With saidWriting point; an annular Wall lying between said AWriting .point andthe inner end 'of thefinner df 'said telescoping members said "tribeyand inner surface of said annular -Wall slidingly cooperating during-atleast the major part of the 'iillingoperation-to *trap 'ink intheWritin'gendof said-reservoir, said tube communi- Y tionV ofdiepen-mechanism.

'22.-3111 'a f self-filling fountain pen of fthe pistontype; a reservoirsaid reservoir being deiined by 'twotelescopingmembers lthe outer oi'said members being entirely closed at its outer end and comprising thebutt `end of the Apen, said outer-inember'being imperforat'e andextending `substantiallyftol the outer e-X- tre'niity of said innerVmember ,a tubeA carried by said closed outer end andv'extending towardthe other l`end 'of said outer member, said tube being in communicationV-With Vthe interior yof said youter vmember adjacent saidclosed'euteren'd; .a Writingpoint carried by the enter end oftherinnerofsaidtelescoping members; the outer-end of the inner of saidtelescoping members having a'chan'nel therein 4commu'nieating with vsaidWriting point; Aan annular Wall lying 'between Vsaid Writing point andthe'inner 'end of the inner -of said telescoping members; saidftube andVinnersurface "of 'said annular Wallslidably cooperating during `atleastthe 1.major partof the Viilling operation to trap inl; in theWriting end of said reservoir, said'tube'communicating at its-outer endwith said `chan- `nelg"sa`id filling operation Dbeing eected byfrelative motion of said telescoping members;

said tubel ybeing formed to f open communication past said Wall from theWriting end of lsaid reservoir to said channel in the Writv ing positionof the pen mechanism.

23. In a self-filling Ifountain pen of the 'piston type; a barrelforming A`anin'l; reservoir; a relativelymovable o'rii'ice defining Walland a member 4'defining `a channel at the Writing end of `said inkreservoir; a Writing point in communication with said channel, a Ytubecarriedby -said reservoir barrel, and eX- tendi'ng to rthe Wri-ting'endof said reservoir, and communicating at its Outer end With said channel,and slidingly cooperating with said orifice denn-ing wall duringat leastthe-maj or partei the filling loperation to trap ink in'the'ivritinglend of said reservoir; the parts being arranged so4thatsaid tube is moved outwardly with respect to saidoriiice duringtheloperation of `filling said pen; said tube being formed to opencommunication past v'said orilice defining Wall from the Writing endofsaid lreservoir to said channel in the Writing position of the penmechanism.

24. In asel-lilling'fountain pen of the'piston typef; 'an 'ink feedingiandtrappingmeehlil) anism including an apertured wall at the writingend of the ink reservoir barrel and movable relative thereto, a tubepositioned for sliding cooperation with said apertured wall during atleast the major part of the filling operation, which is effected byrelative movement of said barrel and wall, to trap ink in the writingend of said reservoir, said tube being formed to open communication pastsaid wall Jfrom the writing end of said reservoir in Jche writingposition of the pen mechanism.

25. In a fountain pen of the sel-lling style, in combination, a writingmember, a reservoir adapted to supply ink thereto, said reservoircomprising a rigid cylinder closed except at the lower end and havingits imperforate side walls extending to a point on the assembled penbeyond the point normally grasped in holding the pen for writing, amovable piston within said reservoir, said piston adapted to be actuatedfrom said lower end to expel air from and take ink into said reservoir,an only means of ingress and egress of ink and/or air through said lowerend, and an inner tube having a passage between the lower and upperportions of said reservoir.

26. In a fountain pen7 in combination, a barrel open only at the writingend and having its imperforate side walls extending to a point on theassembled pen beyond the point normally grasped in holding the pen forwriting, a piston in said writing end and adapted to be actuated fromsaid writing end, said piston being adapted for reciprocation thereinfor filling said pen.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

ROCKEL ALEXANDER FRITSCH.

CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,733,342. Granted Cctober 29, 1929, to

ROCKEL ALEXANDER FRITSCH.

it is hereby certified that error appears in tte printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3,line 37, claim 7, for the word "end" read "and"; same page, line 81,claim i0, for the werd "and" second occurrence, read "an"; and that thesaid Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein thatthe same may conform to tite record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 12th day of November, A. D. 1929.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

